Shoulder and neck tensions

Shoulder and neck tensions are unfortunately no longer a rarity even in children. On the one hand, these can occur due to illness, if the child has to fight with muscular problems or is prone to tensions due to another basic illness. This can be the case, for example, with teeth grinding and jaw tensions, if they lead to a bad posture or wrong movement patterns.

The tension then spreads to actually healthy areas of the body such as the shoulder-neck area. A large factor in the development of childhood tensions is also the way of life. Nowadays children sit far too long in front of the game console, the television, the computer or the like and hardly move at all.

Also the high social pressure by school and parents leads already with the smallest ones to stress, straight if besides also still different dates such as Sportverein or music school are besides accomplished. This stress shows itself with the children then also by physical symptoms such as exhaustion, headache, infection susceptibility and spannings. If shoulder and neck tensions occur in children, it is of course important to treat them as soon as possible to avoid consequential damages in adulthood.

To do this, the cause must first be identified and combated. A doctor will then initiate the appropriate therapy. Usually these are physiotherapeutic treatments, in which the tensions are to be released and the development of new tensions prevented.

Wryneck

The torticollis is a relatively common phenomenon in infants and children. It is a congenital or acquired malposition characterized by a wry neck. The child’s head is tilted to one side and the cervical spine is restricted in its mobility.

Responsible for the torticollis is a shortened head-neck muscle at the front of the neck. Connective tissue cells replace intact muscle cells, which leads to the shortening of the muscle. The exact causes for the development are not known.

It is assumed that an unfavorable position in the uterus or injuries of the musculature during the birth process are responsible for the development of a torticollis in newborns. A later acquired torticollis can be the result of muscle injuries or poor posture. An exact diagnosis is usually obvious to the doctor.

An x-ray can be helpful to check and assess the extent of the problem. A torticollis should be treated as early as possible to avoid secondary diseases and problems during development. Usually a conservative therapy approach is preferred at first.

This involves various positioning techniques, stretching exercises and physiotherapy in an attempt to correct the torticollis. In order to be successful with the therapy, it is important to perform it continuously and consistently. In very rare cases surgery may be necessary. In the article Physiotherapy for a child’s torticollis you will find more detailed information.